1720 Niels

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1720 Niels
Discovery [1]
Discovered by K. Reinmuth
Discovery site Heidelberg Obs.
Discovery date7 February 1935
Designations
(1720) Niels
Named after
Niels (discoverer's grandson) [2]
1935 CQ ·1940 WH
1951 AL ·1953 VO1
1959 RA ·1963 WE
main-belt  ·(inner) [3]
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 4 September 2017 (JD 2458000.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc 89.52 yr (32,697 days)
Aphelion 2.4170 AU
Perihelion 1.9593 AU
2.1881 AU
Eccentricity 0.1046
3.24 yr (1,182 days)
240.21°
Inclination 0.7301°
127.86°
308.86°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions6.394±0.091 [4]
6.566±0.063 km [5]
8.18 km (calculated) [3]
9.976 h [6]
19.2 h [7]
0.20 (assumed) [3]
0.2154±0.0284 [5]
0.227±0.017 [4]
LS [8]  · S [3]
12.22±0.25 [8]  ·12.8 [1] [3]  ·13.2 [5]

    1720 Niels, provisional designation 1935 CQ, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 6.4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 7 February 1935, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany, and named after a grandson of the discoverer. [2] [9]

    Contents

    Orbit and classification

    Niels orbits the Sun in the inner main-belt at a distance of 2.0–2.4  AU once every 3 years and 3 months (1,182 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 1° with respect to the ecliptic. [1] First observed at Heidelberg in 1927, Niels' observation arc begins with its official discovery observation in 1935. [9]

    Physical characteristics

    Pan-STARRS classifies this stony asteroid as a LS-type, an intermediate to the rare L-type asteroids. [8]

    Rotation period

    A rotational lightcurve of Niels was obtained by astronomer Maurice Clark in December 2005. It gave it a rotation period of 9.976 hours with a brightness variation of 0.15 magnitude ( U=1 ). In November 2008, photometric observations by amateur astronomer Pierre Antonini gave another period of 19.2 hours with an amplitude of 0.01 ( U=1- ). As of 2017, a secure period for Niels has not yet been obtained.

    Diameter and albedo

    According to the survey carried out by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Niels measures 6.394 kilometers in diameter, and its surface has an albedo of 0.227, [4] superseding a preliminary result that gave a slightly larger diameter and lower albedo. [5] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 8.18 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 12.8. [3]

    Naming

    The minor planet was named by the discoverer after his grandson, Niels. Reinmuth also named 1719 Jens after one of his grandsons. [2] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 20 February 1976 ( M.P.C. 3933). [10]

    Related Research Articles

    827 Wolfiana, provisional designation 1916 ZW, is a Florian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 8 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered at Vienna Observatory on 29 August 1916, by Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa, who named it after German astronomer Max Wolf. The assumed stony asteroid has a rotation period of 4.0654 hours.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1322 Coppernicus</span> Main-belt asteroid

    1322 Coppernicus, provisional designation 1934 LA, is a stony background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. Discovered by Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in 1934, the asteroid was later named after Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

    1026 Ingrid, provisional designation 1923 NY, is a stony Florian asteroid and long-lost minor planet (1923–1986) from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg in 1923, and later named after Ingrid, niece and godchild of astronomer Albrecht Kahrstedt.

    1047 Geisha, provisional designation 1924 TE, is a stony Florian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 11 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 17 November 1924, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in southwest Germany. The asteroid was named after the British musical The Geisha.

    1049 Gotho, provisional designation 1925 RB, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 53 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 14 September 1925, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany. Although the name of the asteroid is a masculine German name, it is not known to refer to a particular individual.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1050 Meta</span> Stony, main-belt asteroid of the Eunomia family

    1050 Meta, provisional designation 1925 RC, is a stony Eunomia asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 14 September 1925, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany. The meaning of the asteroids's name is unknown. The presumably S-type asteroid has a rotation period of 6.14 hours and possibly an elongated shape.

    1106 Cydonia, provisional designation 1929 CW, is a Eunomian asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 13 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 5 February 1929, by astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in Germany. The asteroid was named for the fruit-bearing tree Cydonia (quince). The S-type asteroid has a relatively short rotation period of 2.7 hours.

    1156 Kira, provisional designation 1928 DA, is a stony background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 February 1928, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany. Any reference of its name to a person or occurrence is unknown.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1457 Ankara</span> Stony asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt

    1457 Ankara, provisional designation 1937 PA, is a stony asteroid from the central region of the asteroid belt, approximately 18 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 3 August 1937, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany, and later named for the Turkish capital city of Ankara.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2839 Annette</span> Flora family asteroid

    2839 Annette is a bright Flora asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 5 October 1929, by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory during his search for Pluto. The presumed S-type asteroid has a rotation period of 10.5 hours and measures approximately 5 kilometers in diameter. It was named after the discoverer's daughter.

    1205 Ebella (provisional designation 1931 TB1) is a relatively eccentric asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5.5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory on 6 October 1931. The asteroid was named after German astronomer Martin Ebell.

    1184 Gaea, provisional designation 1926 RE, is an Aerian asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 20 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 5 September 1926, by astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in southwest Germany. The asteroid was named after the goddess of Earth, Gaea (Gaia), from Greek mythology.

    1823 Gliese, provisional designation 1951 RD, is a stony Flora asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 8 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 4 September 1951, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in southern Germany. The asteroid was named after German astronomer Wilhelm Gliese.

    1233 Kobresia, provisional designation 1931 TG2, is a carbonaceous background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 33 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 10 October 1931, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany. The asteroid was named for the grass-like flowering plant Kobresia, a genus in the sedge family.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1175 Margo</span> Stony background asteroid

    1175 Margo, provisional designation 1930 UD, is a stony background asteroid from the outermost regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 24 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 17 October 1930, by astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in southwest Germany. The meaning of the asteroids's name is unknown.

    1990 Pilcher, provisional designation 1956 EE, is a stony background asteroid from the Florian region of the inner asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 9 March 1956, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory in Heidelberg, Germany. In 1982, it was named by the MPC for American physicist and photometrist Frederick Pilcher. The S-type asteroid has a short rotation period of 2.8 hours.

    1907 Rudneva, provisional designation 1972 RC2, is a stony background asteroid from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 11 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 September 1972, by astronomer Nikolai Chernykh at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Nauchnyj, on the Crimean peninsula. The asteroid was named after Soviet geodesist and war hero Yevgeniya Rudneva.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1704 Wachmann</span> Main-belt asteroid

    1704 Wachmann, provisional designation A924 EE, is a stony asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory on 7 March 1924. It was later named after astronomer Arno Wachmann.

    1466 Mündleria, provisional designation 1938 KA, is a carbonaceous asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 22 kilometers in diameter.

    1530 Rantaseppä, provisional designation 1938 SG, is a stony Florian asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 5 kilometers in diameter. Discovered by Yrjö Väisälä at Turku Observatory in 1938, it was later named after Finnish astronomer Hilkka Rantaseppä-Helenius.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1720 Niels (1935 CQ)" (2017-05-05 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1720) Niels". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1720) Niels. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 136–137. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1721. ISBN   978-3-540-00238-3.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "LCDB Data for (1720) Niels". Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    4. 1 2 3 Masiero, Joseph R.; Grav, T.; Mainzer, A. K.; Nugent, C. R.; Bauer, J. M.; Stevenson, R.; et al. (August 2014). "Main-belt Asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE: Near-infrared Albedos". The Astrophysical Journal. 791 (2): 11. arXiv: 1406.6645 . Bibcode:2014ApJ...791..121M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/121 . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    5. 1 2 3 4 Mainzer, A.; Grav, T.; Masiero, J.; Hand, E.; Bauer, J.; Tholen, D.; et al. (November 2011). "NEOWISE Studies of Spectrophotometrically Classified Asteroids: Preliminary Results". The Astrophysical Journal. 741 (2): 25. arXiv: 1109.6407 . Bibcode:2011ApJ...741...90M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/741/2/90.
    6. Clark, Maurice (March 2007). "Lightcurve Results for 1318 Nerina, 222 Lermontov 3015 Candy, 3089 Oujianquan, 3155 Lee, 6410 Fujiwara, 6500 Kodaira, (8290) 1992 NP, 9566 Rykhlova, (42923) 1999 SR18, and 2001 FY". The Minor Planet Bulletin. 34 (1): 19–22. Bibcode:2007MPBu...34...19C. ISSN   1052-8091 . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    7. Behrend, Raoul. "Asteroids and comets rotation curves – (1720) Niels". Geneva Observatory . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    8. 1 2 3 Veres, Peter; Jedicke, Robert; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Denneau, Larry; Granvik, Mikael; Bolin, Bryce; et al. (November 2015). "Absolute magnitudes and slope parameters for 250,000 asteroids observed by Pan-STARRS PS1 - Preliminary results". Icarus. 261: 34–47. arXiv: 1506.00762 . Bibcode:2015Icar..261...34V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.007 . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    9. 1 2 "1720 Niels (1935 CQ)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    10. Schmadel, Lutz D. "Appendix – Publication Dates of the MPCs". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition (2006–2008). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 221. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01965-4. ISBN   978-3-642-01964-7.